Manchester United boost - Nani gives injury the cold shoulder to insist: I'll be fit for Birmingham

10 August 2009 16:57
Nani has delivered a boost to Sir Alex Ferguson by insisting he will be fit in time for Manchester United's Barclays Premier League opener against Birmingham on Sunday. The signs were not good when the 22-year-old left Wembley with a dislocated shoulder during the second half of Sunday's defeat by Chelsea in the Community Shield. But Nani insists his dislocated shoulder is not serious and is even hopeful of playing in Portugal's friendly in Liechtenstein on Wednesday night after reporting for duty as scheduled with the national squad. 'I think I can recover in time. We'll see how it turns out,' said the former Sporting Lisbon player. 'It's painful and it needs treatment. It's not a very serious injury. I need to take care of it and I expect to get better in the coming days.' Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz, formerly Ferguson's No 2 at Old Trafford, also gives Nani a good chance of being fit in time to be named in his line-up. 'He can't have any physical contact (on his shoulder) today or tomorrow,' said Queiroz. '(But) all our expectations are positive.' Nani impressed in Sunday's curtain-raiser, scoring the first goal and providing a threat down the left wing, particularly in the first half against Chelsea. A lengthy lay-off would have been a major blow to Ferguson, who is coming to terms to life without Cristiano Ronaldo. New signing Antonio Valencia does not quite look match fit, while United have absences in other areas, with first-team players Edwin van der Sar, Rafael, Owen Hargreaves definitely out of the Birmingham clash. Nemanja Vidic, Wes Brown and Gary Neville are also doubts for Sunday.

Source: Daily_Mail